TV projects focus on AIDS, Hudson

HOLLYWOOD Randy Shilts, author of And the Band Played On, thebest-selling history of AIDS, is waxing enthusiastic aboutscreenwriter John Gay's four-hour mini-series adaptation for NBC, nowin final revisions.

"I'm pleased with it, to be honest. I'm surprised," Shiltssaid. "It includes the major political themes (from the book) dealingwith the negligence of the federal government and variousinstitutions" in responding to the crisis.

Shilts' greatest fear - "a major point of negotiations" - wasthat executive producer Edgar Scherick might sensationalize the sagaby focusing on so-called Patient Zero, a gay Canadian airline stewardwho was believed to have spread the …